Elevator and lateral shift appliance for motor vehicles



Jan. 24, 1933. I c 1,895,134

ELEVATOR AND LATERAL SHIFT APPLIANCE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May 16.1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I v 6 :3 4 7 V G a V 4 7 TOE/VEK Jan. 24, 1933.

M. H. RICE ELEVATOR AND LATERAL SHIFT APPLIANCE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FiledMay 16. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 24, 1933.

ELEVATOR AND LATERAL SHIFT APPLIANCE FOR MOTOR vamcws Filed May 16.1930' 3 Sheets Sheet 3 M. H. RICE Patented Jan. 24, 1933 I i a it1,895,134

* UNITED STATES PATENT orr cs MERRIT H. RICE, F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA,ASSIGNOB oE o -HALE T0 GEORGE it. LANGTREE AND BEATRICE E. s. LANGTREE,or PASADENA, CALIFORNIA ELEVATOR AND LATER-AL snrrr APPLIANCE FOR MOTORVEHICLES Application filed May 16, 1920. Serial No. 453,062.

This invention relates to a motor vehicle an accessory attachment or asa part of the appliancefor effecting vertical and lateral vehicleequipment.

movement of the vehicle, and has as its pri- Another object is toprovide an appliance mary'object the provision of a means where'- of theabove character. which is simple in by a motor vehicle may be elevatedand shiftconstruction and eflicientlin operation. 50

ed laterallyund'er its own power, and where- With the foregoing objectsin view, to-

by such movements of the vehicle may be gether with such other objectsand advantages readily controlled by the operator from the as maysubsequently appear, the invention drivers seat. resides in the partsand features, andin the I Another object'of this invention is toprocombination, construction and arrangementvide a combined ack andlateral shift mechof parts hereinafter described and claimed anism formotor vehicles which is operable and illustrated by way of example inthe to lift and support the vehicle rear axle and accompanying drawings,in which: to effect lateral moveinentof the "rear end Fig. 1 isa planview showing the device portion of the vehicle under mechanical asappliedto a motor vehicle and illustratpower. i g ing it as arranged inassociation with the ve- Another object is to provide a combined hiclerear axle housing with the parts disjack and dolly attachment for motorvehicles posed in operative relation to the rear axle including meanswhereby the jack and dolly housing; 1 may be driven from a single driveshaft and Fig. 2 is a view in elevation as seen in the yet be separatelycontrolled. d rection indicated by the arrow 2 in -Another objectis toprovide a combined Fig. 1; elevator and dolly attachment for motor ve-Fig. 3 is a view in section and elevation as hicles which is adapted tobe carried by the seen on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; vehicle frame and to beautomatically swung Fig.3 is a detail in section and elevation in andout of operativerelation to a vehicle as seen on the line 3"-3 of Figure2; axle and also be automatically operated to ef- Fig. 4: is a detail insection taken on the fect raising and lowering of the vehicle axle line4-4 of Fig. 2; relatively to the ground, whereby the vehicle Fig. 5 is adetail in horizontal section as wheels may be positioned clear of theground seen on the line 5.5 of Fig.2; Y O and the vehiclethen supportedon transverse Fig. 6 is a view ofcross section as seen on rollersso thatthe vehicle may then be shifted the line 66 of Fig; 5; p 7 1 laterallyon said rollers, and also to provide Fig. 7 is a View in crosssectiontaken on manually controlled means whereby the latthe line 7 7 ofFig.5; l eral rollers may be driven to efiectlateral Fig, 8 i a, vi werthe control mechanism 8 movement of the vehicle in either direction asseen on the line 8-8, of Fig. 1 with parts while in its elevatedposition. removed; H I i Another object is to provide an-applianceFigure 9 is a view in section and elevation of the above character inwhich the vehicle as seen on the line 9-9 of Figure-5. 7 elevator may beautomatically actuated when Referring to the drawings more specificalsetin operation but under manual control, 1y, A indicates generally theframe of amoand in which the lateral shift mechanism t r v hicl and Bdesignates the vehicle rear may be operated entirely at the Will andunaxlef housing containing the usual rear axle Y der the control of theoperator, and which emfitt d ith traction wheels C and D. bodies acontrol mechanism so formed and Mounted on the side members 10 and11 ofarranged as to be easily man pulat d. the vehicle frameis a pair ofvertically move Another object is to provide a vehicle eleable hangers12 and 13 on which is fixedly vating and lateral shift mechanism whichis carried a rod 14 arranged to extend transadapted to be designed forapplication to moversely of the motor vehicle frame at a point torvehicles now generally in use, either as adjacent to, but rearward oftherear axle housing B. Each of the hangers 12 and13 is formed with avertical slot as particularly shown in Fig. 3*, which slot is engagedby'a pin '16 carried on the vehicle side frame member and whereby thehangers 12 and 13 "with the transverse bar 14, may be shifted verticallywith relation to the frame and rear axle. Turnably'mounted on the'bar 14is a rocker sleeve 17 on which iscarried a dolly indicated generally atthe sleeve 17 being formed with a pair of spaced parallel members 18 and19 which are connected to the dolly E through a pair of j acks F and G,re-

spectively. The dollyE embodies a the outer ends of which is mounted apair of rollers 21 and 22, the axles of which extendat right anglesto'theaxes of the vehicle wheels 7 C and D. The dolly also includesinternally threadedtubular. members 23 and 24, const-ituting portionsofthe jacks F and G; said portions being engaged by externally thread- 7ed tubes 25 as shownin Fig. 4, which tubes are affixed' to beveled gears26 a'nd127, and

-W.hich are screwedon threaded stems 28 and 29 fixed on the members'18and19; the gears 26 and27 being confined between yokes 30 and 31slidably engaginga shaft 32 extending parallelwiththe bar 20, and whichshaft carriesfbeveled gears 33 and 34, which mesh l with the gears 26and 27, respectively.

7 The dolly E is designed to normally extend in substantially horizontalposition beneath the vehicle body carried on the frame'A asslightlyspaced vertical relation thereto.

Means are provided for; swinging thedolly to and from its operative,POSltlOD and for mechanically drlv ng the acks F and G andforpropelling the dolly wheels 21' and 22, and which means is here shown1nF1gL 5 as including a revo-luble shaft; 37, extending parallel withthe fixedbar' 14andsupp'orted in a pair of spaced housings-38 and 39afiixed through brackets '40 and 41' to the rocker sleeve 17.Encompassing the shaft 37 and shiftable longitudinally thereof is-anonturnable sleeve 42, and loosely encompassing the sleeve 42 is a spurgear 43-which meshes with a toothed segment 44 fixed on the bar. '14,and which gear 43 is adapted on being rotated a partial revolution totraverse the toothed segment 44, and thereby effect swinging of thedolly to and from its operative position according to the direction ofrotation of the gear 43. A beveled gear 45 loosely encircles thesleeve42 and is engaged in bean ing 46 carried on a bracket 47 connectedwith the rocker-sleeve 17 the gear 45 meshing.

transverse bar 20 on with a beveled gear 48 on a shaft 49 fitted with a.beveled gear 50, meshing with a beveled gear 51 on the shaft32 wherebyon ro- V tation of the gear 45, the jacks F and G will be operated. i

Loosely encircling the shaft 37 is a pair of opposed beveled gears 52-and 53, between which is interposed a clutch sleeve 54, adapted to bemovedinto engagement with either of the gears 52 and 53 to effectengagement of either of said gearswith the shaft 37 through the sleeve42 as will be later described. The gear's52 and 53 engage a gear 55 on ashaft 56,,fitted with a gear57 meshshaft 37 the sleeve 42 willbe}advanced longitudinally of shaft 37; the sleeve 42 being held againstrotation byfmeans of splines 42 slidably engaging longitudinal grooves42" in the housing 39. 'Revolubly encompassing the inner end. portion ofthe I sleeve 42 is a sleeve 66 which projects beyond the inner end ofthe sleeve 42'and' slidably extends through the clutchsleeve 54; thesleeve 66 being splined to the .shaft37 by keys at car'- ried by theshaft 37 and slidably. engaging longitudinally extending-channels bformed interiorly ofthe sleeve 66. Studs 0 carried on the sleeve 42project into and slidably engage a channel diextending around the innerperiphery of the sleeve 66, whereby longitudinal movement of the sleeve42 will effect corresponding movement of the sleeve'66 yet permitrotation of the sleeve 66 around the sleeve 42 on" rotation of the shaft37. The clutch sleeve 54is splined by keys 0 on a sleeve 54 ing wlth'agear 58, n a shaft 59 carried on {8 the bar 20 and which shaft 59 isfitted with which slidably encompasses the sleeve, 66 and passes freelythrough the gear 53 and has an enlarged end portion which extendsbetween V the hubs of the gears 53 andj45. The sleeve 66 is formed atthe end thereof overlapping the sleeve 54 with a pair of diametricallyopposed feathers 66 which. are successively engage able with key-ways67, 68, and 69 formed respectively in the gears 43 and 45'andclutchengaging sleeve 54'', as the sleeve42 is shifted longitudinally oftheshaft '37. I Y Y A gear wheel 70 on the shaft 37 meshes with a gearwheel71 loosely mounted on the rod 14, and which gear 71 is formed witha beveled gear 72, whichmeshes with a beveled pinion 73 on a drive shaft74 extending forwardly of the vehicle frame A. The shaft 74 -is designedto be driven in either direction from the power plant of the motorvehicle; being here shown in Fig. 1 as fitted at its forward end with abeveled gear 75, which meshes with a pair of beveled gears 76 and 77loosely mounted on a shaft 78 in a housing 7 8 which shaft is drivencontinuously as from the transmission gears in thegear case 79 in anydesired manner. A clutch 80 is provided between the gears 76 and 77which is preferably of the friction type'and is splined on the shaft 78and is adapted to effect drive connection between the shaft 78 andeither-of the gears 76 and 77 to drive the shaft 74.

Means are provided for manually controlling the operation of the shaft 74: by shifting the clutch 80, and also for manually controlling thedrive of the dolly wheels 21 and 22 by shifting the clutch sleeve 54:,and which means is here shown particularly in Fig. 8 as comprising atubular lever 81 pivoted at 82, and in which is mounted a turnable shaft83 which projects above the upper end of the lever 81 and isfitted witha hand lever 84 whereby the shaft 83 may be turned within the lever 81.The lever 81 connects through a link 85 with a bell crank lever86,connected through a lost-motion slot 86 with a rocker arm 87 engagingthe clutch 80, whereby on rocking the lever 81 in one direction, theclutch 80 will engage the gear 76, and on rock ing the lever 81 in theopposite direction will engage the gear 77. The lower end of the shaft83 is fitted with an arm 88 connected by a link 89 to a bell crank lever90, which in.

turn connects with a link 91 leading to one arm of a'bell crank lever92, the other arm of which connects with a rod 93, leading to one arm ofa bell crank lever 94, the other arm of which connects with a sleeve 95slidably sup.- ported on the rocker sleeve 17 and connected to a slidebar 96 leading to a rocker arm 97 engaging the clutch sleeve 54.

The dolly E is normally disposed in it's elevated or lnoperatlveposition as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 3, in which position thesleeve 42 is in its fully retracted position as shown in Fig. 5, withthe feather 66 engaged with the key-way 67 in thegear 43; the dollybeing maintained in such position by means of a' catch 98 carried on thevehicle frame and arranged to engage the outer end of the shaft 37 whenthe latteris' disposed in its upper position as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2. The catch 98 is formed with a finger 99 which, when thecatch is engaged with the shaft 37,. is adapted to project between apair of adjacent cain faces 100 formed on the outer face of the gear 7 0when the latter is at rest. The'gear wheel 7 O is mounted to have slightrelative movement on the shaft 37 for which purpose it formed withopposed circumferentially extending slots 101 on its inner peripheryen-. gaged by a pin 102 extending through the shaft 37 as particularlyshown in Fig. 9; this pin and slot affording a lost motion connec tionbetween the gear and shaft whereby on initial rotation of the gear'70,the latter 3 turns a partial revolution before effecting rotation of theshaft 37.

In the operation of the invention, assuming the parts to be in a normalposition, the shaft 7 4 is set in motion ina'forwarddirection by theoperator rocking. the lever 81 to throw the clutch 80 into engagementwith, for example the gear 77. Rotationof the shaft 74 drives the gears73,72, 71, and 70;

the latter initiallymoving idle on the shaft 8 37 a partial revolutionthereby causing (me of the cams 100 thereon to effect disengagement ofthe catch 98 from the shaft 37 thus releasing the latter so thatoncontinued rotation of the gear 7 O and consequent rotation of theshaft 37 the same will act through the i sleeve 66 and the'feathers 66thereonto rotate the gear 43 and cause thela'tter. to move downwardly onthe toothed segment' t ltthe; feathers 66 being then engaged with thekeyway 67 on the gear as shown in Figure 7'. During this rotation of theshaft 37 the screw teeth 6 thereon will effect advance of the sleeve 42longitudinally of the shaft 37 thereby advancing the sleeve 66 andmoving the feathers 66 out of engagement with the gear wheel 43 whichoccurs at the moment the dolly frame has been swung downwardlv to itsdependent position. Continued rotat on of the shaft 37 causes thefeathers 66 to move into engagement with the key-ways 68 in: the gear 45thereby driving the jacks 'F andG in such direction as to initiallylower the dolly against the ground: and then cause upward movement ofthe members 18 and 19 so that the? projections 35 and 36 will engage theunderside of the rear axle housing B and. therebyelevate the latter; theslots 15 inthe hangersY12 and-13 permitting the slight upward movementof the members 18 and19' necessary to bring theprojections 35 and 36into engagement with the rear axle housing.

The jacks will thus be operated to effect lifting of the rear wheelsofthe vehicle during thetime the feathers-66 are traversing the key-ways68 in the gear 45.

The parts are so designed that the feather v66 will be advanced out ofengagement with 1 the gear 45 and into engagement with thekeyways 69inthe clutch engaging sleeve 54 when the jacks have been extendedsufficiently to elevate the wheels of the vehicle several inch-esfromthe ground. =If at any time during the operation just described,theoperator .desires to restore the parts to normal, the

lever 81 is operated to throw the clutch 80 first into neutral in whichposition the parts come to rest, and thento dispose the clutch and intoengagement with the gearwheel 76 thereby effecting reverse rotation ofthe shafts 74 which causes reverse rotation of I the shaft 37 andretrograde longitudinal movement of the sleeves 42 and 66 and thefeathers 66; the shaft 37 being then rotated in a reverse directionacting to drive the gear 45 in reverse thereby actuating the jacks tovlower the vehicle and slightly-elevate the dolly and after which thefeathers reengage the gear 43 to rotate the latter and cause it toascend thetoothed segment 44 until the shaft .37 is elevated intoreengagement with the catch 98 at which point the sleeve 42 reaches thelimit 'of' its retracted position thereby inhibiting further rotation ofthe shaft 37 as before described and itis desired to shift the rearportion of the vehicle to the right or left, the operator, bymanipulation of the lever 84,'disposes the clutch engagingsleeve 54 intoengagement with either of the'gears 52 or 53, whereupon theengaged gearwill be driven'by' rotation of the shaft 37 by reason of the feathers 66then engaging the .clutch sleeve; the dolly wheels thenbeing driventhrough. their gear connection with the operating gear 5201* 53. r

' The parts are so proportioned that when the feathers 66engage' theclutch engaging sleeve 54', the sleeve 42 will advance clear of thescrew threaded portion of the shaft 37 which permits the -;sh aft 37 tocontinue its rotation without effecting further advance of the sleeve42. The lateral movement of the rea'rend of the vehicle in eitherdirection is thus controlled through the clutch sleeve 54 and the handlever 84; the lateral movement being terminated as desired by throwingthe clutch sleeve 54 into its neutral position. {After having thus movedthe rear portion of the vehicle tranversely to the desired position, thedirection of the rotation of the shaft 37 is reversed as beforedescribed to effect lowering of the vehicle. and to restore the dolly toits elevated position as before described; initial rotation of the shaft37' cahsingreengagement ofthe sleeve 42 with the threaded portion 64 ofthe shaft 37 wh ch is occasioned by the action of aispring 103,particularly shown in Fig. '5, which is positioned to be placed undertensionby the end of the sleeve 66 advancing thereagainst; the spring103 then acting through the sleeve 66 to advance the sleeve 42 L intoreengag-e'ment' with the threads 64;

I claim': a I Y 1. In a vehicle lift andshift appliance, a"

'rewoluble shaft, a swinging support for said shaft, means for rotatingsaid shaft, a non-H rotatable sleeve slidable longitudinally of said andthe wheels of the' dolly;

shaft, a screw connection between said sleeye and shaft, a second sleevespllned on said shaft connected to said first named sleeve to movetherewith, feathers on said second sleeve, a pair of gear wheels-looselyencompassing said shaft-having key-ways, said Wheels being arranged tobe successively engaged with said second sleeve through said feathersand key-ways, a vertically swinging wheeled dolly, an axle engaging jackcarriedby said-dolly, a fixed segmental rack engaged by one of saidgear'wheels arranged to-be traversed by the latter, connecgear wheelsloosely encompassing the shaft,

a sleeve having key ways arranged to be engaged with the featheredsleeve, a clutch splined on said key-wayed sleeve, manually. operablemeans for engaglng said clutch with either of'said second pair of gearwheels, and gear connections between said gear wheels 3. Ina vehiclejack and shifting mecha- I nism,a wheeled dolly, means for supportingsaid dolly for vertical swinging, movement on a vehicle frame, an axleengaging jack on said dolly, a revoluble shaft on said dolly support,aclutch member encircling said shaft, a sleeve encompassing said shaftsplinedto said clutch member, a pair'of gear Wheels loosely encirclingsaid shaft adapted to be alternately engaged by said clutch mem ber,driving connections between said gear wheels and the wheels of saiddolly, a second pair of'gears loosely encompassing said shaft, means onsaid shaft actuated by rotation thereof for effecting successiveengagement of each of said last named gears and said sleeve withsaid'shaft, gear'connections be- 7 tween one of said second pair ofgears and said dolly for swinging same, and a gear conpa r nectionsbetween the other of said second of gears for actuating said jack. V

4. In a motor vehicle having a frame and an axle housing, a transversebar carried on said frame mounted for free vertical' movement relativelyto said axle housing and frame, a pairof arms pivoted on said bar toswing vertically, projections on said arms arranged'to project beneathsaid axle housing when said arms are disposed in a dependent position,screw jacks connected to said arms, a wheeled dolly carried by saidjacks, and means foractnating said jacks.

In a motor vehicle having a frame and an axlehousing, hangers mounted onsaid frame and having lost motion connection therewith,

1. pair of arms, a pivotal connectionbetween said arms and saidhangers-on which said arms are mounted to swing vertically, projectionson said arms arranged to extend beneath said axle housing when said armsare disposed in a dependent position, a wheeled dolly, jacks connectingsaid dolly to said arms for raising and lowering said dolly and armsrelative to each other, and means for actuat ing said jacks.

6. In a motor vehicle having a frame and an axle housing, a pair ofvertically swinging arms carried by said frame arranged to be positionedto depend adjacent said axle housing, projections on said arms arrangedto extend beneath said housing in spaced relation thereto when said armsare in their dependent position, a wheeled dolly, jacks connecting saiddolly to saidarms for raising and lowering said dolly and arms relativeto each other, and lost motion connections between said arms and saidframe to permit movement of said projections in and out of engagementwith said axleho'using on operation of said jacks.

7. The structure called for in claim 6, together with means for swingingsaid arms in and out of their dependent'positiomand 7 means forreleasably retaining said armsout of their dependent position. V

MERRIT H; RICE.

